Immovability 75x75 cm (each picture) 2006

I have been studying Communication Design with an emphasis on Photography. During my studies, I also made myself familiar with audiovisual techniques and I realized projects with Audio-Slideshows, Sound Installation and Video. Since I left University, I teach myself – I do a lot of research and I try to learn programmes or special techniques by myself. I have a preference for humorous, provocative, scurrile and playful Staged Photography as well as documentary pictures. Some of my works are rather „clinical“ and reduced to the very basic, some are pretty experimental, spontaneous and personal. I do a lot of observations in my surroundings and I pay attention to systems and structures, which include a varity of layers. I like playful stagings a lot and pictures that evoke a certain sense of humour and curiosity. Many of my works deal with norms in society and the deviations of such norms. My intention is to expand people’s way of thinking and to appeal to more tolerance towards people who seem to be strange. When people see my works, they often comment about them using attributes like „crazy“, „odd“, „surreal“, „absurd“, „disturbing“, „tragicomical“, "playful", sometimes even "silly". I (try to) create scenes, situations or moments people can identify with When my images activate an inner dialogue between the image itself and the viewer, it is a success. Good images communicate, touch you and make you reflect. And good images can be looked at over and over again. In my works I focus on sociological, psychological and philosophical topics and questions regarding the human being that I mostly realize in a humorous and playful way. My passion is on art and I really hope that commercial photography becomes more and more arty. Unfortunately, Germany is – compared to other countries - not very brave and progressive and sometimes people tell me: „Frauke, we really like your images, but they are too arty for advertising.“ – That really disapponts me, because for me, the image itself is the most important – why not use an arty image in advertising? I don’t understand that ... I shoot with Hasselblad (analogue), Canon 5D and for spontaneous photos and videos, I also like the iPhone-Camera and Photo Booth. I realize more and more that – for me - the equipment is secondary. A good eye is much more valuable than an expensive camera. I have to laugh when people talk too much about technique or when people say: "WOW, cool picture – which camera do you have" or "Which lens do you use"? For me the content, the concept and idea behind the picture has always been much more important than technique.

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